I fell in love with England because it was quaint (古雅)—all those little houses, looking terribly old-fashioned but nice, like dolls’ houses. I loved the countryside and the pubs, and I loved London. I’ve slightly changed my mind after seventeen years because I think it’s an ugly town now.
Things have changed. For everybody, England meant gentlemen, fair play, and good manners. The fair play is going, unfortunately, and so are the gentlemanly attitudes and good manners—people shut doors heavily in your face and politeness is disappearing.
I regret that there are so few comfortable meeting places. You’re forced to live indoors. In Paris I go out much more, to restaurants and nightclubs. To meet friends here it usually has to be in a pub, and it can be difficult to go there alone as a woman. The cafes are not terribly nice.
As a woman, I feel unsafe here. I spend a bomb on taxis because I will not take public transport after 10 p. m. I used to use it, but now I’m afraid.
The idea of family seems to be more or less non-existent in England. My family is well united and that’s typically French. In Middlesex I had a neighbour who is 82 now. His family only lived two miles away, but I took him to France for Christmas once because he was always alone.
【小题1】The writer doesn’t like London because she ______.

A．has lived there for seventeen years

B．prefers to live in an old-fashioned house

C．is not used to the life there now

D．has to be polite to everyone she meets there

【小题2】Where do people usually meet their friends in England?

A．In a pub.

B．In a cafe.

C．In a restaurant.

D．In a nightclub.

【小题3】The writer took her neighbour to France for Christmas because he ______.

A．had never been to France	B．was from a typical French family
C．didn't like the British idea of family	D．felt lonely in England

Being that I worked in a grocery store for 7 years, I know quite a bit about impulsive purchases. In fact, I helped (sadly to say) push certain products by placing them in a certain fashion. Through said experience, I tend to know some of the best ways to counter the impulsive nature of buying things that are unnecessary.
The following is a 3- point list to counter the need to buy something shoved in your face…
Don't bring the kids.
You wouldn't believe (or maybe you parents would) how much more junk parents buy for their kids that is completely impulsive. Working as a checker at a grocery store, I quickly learned that most of the time kids were with their parents, the parents would buy something else within 10 feet of the check stand.
Bring exact cash.
I like to use my debit card because I am able to track every penny better, but holding and letting go of cash is much tougher for me personally. So, if I am going through a tough time budgeting properly, I will bring the allotted (限定的)amount of cash to the place of business and only allow that to be used.
Ignore salesman.
If you are at a department store and someone asks if you need help, try to ignore their push as much as possible. Sure, if you know nothing about laptops, get their advice, but even then I suggest doing your research pre-shop. Salesman could care less what you want. It's all about what their quota or commission is. Ignore them.
【小题1】Why does the author write the passage?

A．To talk about her own shopping experiences.

B．To give readers some advice about resisting buying unnecessary things.

C．To complain about some bad experiences.

D．To tell us she has the habit of buying things that are unnecessary.

【小题2】Why does the author like to use debit card?

A．Because her debit card is convenient.

B．Because she has not much cash.

C．Because she can know where every her penny goes.

D．Because she has many debit cards.

【小题3】Which statement about the passage is WRONG?

A．Parents always bring something else for their children.

B．The author will bring the exact cash to buy things when going through a tough time.

C．Salesmen care much about what you want, so you can follow their advice.

D．The author worked in a grocery store for 7 years.

Some time ago, I discovered that one of my chairs had a broken leg. I didn’t think there would be any difficulty in getting it mended , as there are a whole lot of antique (古董) shops near my home . So I left home one morning carrying the chair with me. I went into the first shop expecting a friendly reception. I was quite wrong. The man wouldn’t even look at my chair.
The second shop, though slightly more polite, was just the same, and the third and, the fourth-so I decided that my approach must be wrong.
I went into the fifth shop with a plan in my mind. I placed the chair on the floor and said to the shopkeeper, “Would you like to buy a chair?” He looked it over carefully and said, “Yes, not a bad chair. How much do you want for it, sir?” “Twenty pounds,” I said. “OK,” he said, “I’ll give you twenty pounds.” “It’s got a slightly broken leg,” I said. “Yes I saw that, it’s nothing.”
Everything was going according to plan and I was getting excited. “What will you do with it?” I asked. “Oh, it will be easy to sell once the repair is done.” “I’ll buy it,” I said. “What do you mean? You’ve just sold it to me,” he said.  “Yes, I know but I’ve changed my mind. I’m sorry. I’ll give you twenty-seven pounds for it.” “You must be crazy,” he said. Then, suddenly the penny dropped. “I know what you want. You want me to repair your chair.” “You’re right,” I said. “And what would you have done if I had walked in and said, ‘Would you mend this chair for me’?” “I wouldn’t have agreed to do it,” he said. “We don’t do repairs, not enough money in it and too much trouble. But I’ll mend this for you, shall we say for a five?” He was a very nice man and was greatly amused by the whole thing.
【小题1】We can learn from the text that in the first shop the writer     .

A．was rather impolite	B．was warmly received
C．asked the shopkeeper to buy his chair	D．asked the shopkeeper to repair his chair

【小题2】The expression “the penny dropped” in the last paragraph means the shopkeeper     .

A．changed his mind	B．saw the writer’s purpose
C．accepted the offer	D．decided to help the writer

【小题3】How much did the writer pay?

A．£5

B．£7

C．£20

D．£27

【小题4】From the text, we can learn that the writer was         .

A．smart

B．careful

C．honest

D．funny

Kids Fishing Photo Contest
It certainly isn’t hard to “ picture it”, that is – smiles, laughs, looks of anticipation (期望) and excitement. So, join in the fun, catch the excitement of your child on film while fishing and enter his or her picture in the yearly Kids Fishing Photo Contest! The contest is sponsored by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) in celebration of National Fishing Week!
The winning pictures are those that best catch the theme “kids enjoying fishing”. Children in the first through third place photographs of each category will receive different fishing-related prizes. Winning pictures will also be posted on the VDGIF website and may be used in all kinds of VDGIF publications. There is no need to be a professional photographer. Any photo will do.
Contest Rules
·Children in the photographs must fall into one of the following age groups when the picture is taken: 1—4, 6—10.
·Photos must not be more than 1 year old.
·Photos must be taken in Virginia.
·Children in a boat must be wearing a life jacket.
·Only one photo submission (提交) per child.
·Submit the photo on photograph quality paper, no CD’s accepted.
·Photos must not be bigger than “4×6” size.
·Please stick a piece of paper to the back of the photo including: name, age, address, phone number and location where the photograph was taken.
·A Photo Contest Release Form (PDF) must be submitted along with the photograph.
·Photos must be postmarked on or before April 19, 2013.
·Judging will take place in May and winners will be posted on the VDGIF website.
·Prizes will be sent directly to the winning children.
·This contest isn’t open to immediate family of VDGIF employees and sponsors. Immediate family members refer to children, siblings (同胞) or others living in the same household with a VDGIF or sponsor employee.
To Enter:
Send your photo, with the child’s name, age, phone number and address, along with the Photo Contest Release Form (PDF), to:
Kids Fishing Photo Contest
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
P.O. Box 11104
Richmond, VA 23230–1104
【小题1】The advertisement is intended for ________.

A．children who are below 11 years old

B．people whose children like fishing

C．those who are good at photos

D．those whose parents like fishing

【小题2】 The purpose of the contest is to ________.

A．encourage people to take more pictures

B．help people realize the importance of fishing

C．celebrate a national fishing-related activity

D．encourage people to go fishing with kids

【小题3】 Which of the following photos can enter the contest?
A. A photo which is in a CD.
B. A photo in which there is a 12-year-old girl.
C. A big photo which is “8×10” size.
D. A photo which was taken in Virginia on July 23, 2012.
【小题4】 What should be sent with the photo together?
A. A life jacket.
B. A quality CD.
C. A stamped addressed envelope.
D. A Photo Contest Release Form.

When next year’s crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall, they will be joined by a new face: Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost (教务长) of Yale, who will become Oxford’s vice-chancellor –– a position equal to university president in America.
Hamilton isn’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc. have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Yet the talent flow isn’t universal. High-level personnel (人员) tend to head in only one direction: Outward from America.
The chief reason is that American schools don’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university’s budget. “We didn’t do any global consideration,” says Patricia Hayes, the board’s chair. The board finally picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a particularly American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.
Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student numbers. The decline in government support has made fund-raising an increasingly necessary ability among administrators (管理人员), and has made hiring committees hungry for Americans.
In the past few years, well-known schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2011, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen (监督) “ a major strengthening of Yale’s financial position”.
Of course, fund-raising isn’t the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind to promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective (视角) on established practices.
【小题1】 What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the text?

A．Institutions worldwide are hiring administrators from the U.S.

B．More international students are being admitted to American universities.

C．University presidents are paying more attention to fund-raising.

D．A lot of activists are being hired as administrators.

【小题2】 What do we learn about European universities from the text?

A．The tuition they charge has been rising considerably.

B．They are strengthening their position by globalization.

C．Their operation is under strict government control.

D．Most of their money comes from the government.

【小题3】 In what way do top-level administrators from abroad contribute to university development?

A．They can improve the university’s image.

B．They will bring with them more international personnel.

C．They will view a lot of things from a new angle.

D．They can set up new academic subjects.

【小题4】 Which of the following would make the best title of the text?

A．High Education Globalization

B．Global Headhunting in Higher Education

C．Global Higher Education Cooperation

D．Universal Higher Education Development

【小题1】Who is writing the postcard?

A．Fiona.

B．Janet.

C．Terry.

D．Jacqui.

【小题2】Where are they staying now?

A．North of the Great Wall.	B．In the south of England.
C．In a big city.	D．In a village.

【小题3】Which one is NOT right?

A．John is reading a newspaper.

B．The children are swimming in the river.

C．Terry is lying in the sun.

D．Janet is in the house.

【小题4】How do they like the holiday？

A．enjoyable

B．terrible

C．boring

D．bad

Signs in Chinese will be set up in public areas such as airports, to benefit Chinese travelers, the Italian Government announced in late February. Now many European countries are expected to follow this example.
Despite the different languages, travel across Europe has never been so simple. Just five years ago, if you wanted to visit Germany in the north and Spain in the south in one trip, you had to wait for weeks to apply for different visas from the two countries. You also needed a calculator because both countries had different money.
Today, with a Schengen Visa issued by any member country, you can travel across 15 European countries without stopping. Since 2002, within most of the EU, there is now just one type of money called the Euro. The Euro was designed to be the only money in the EU, and already makes it easier to shop around. If you drive, your driving license and car insurance policy are valid（有效的）in the other European countries. And you can use your mobile phone everywhere.
All the countries in the continent are melting into a united Europe under the EU. For Europeans and visitors, the result is that it is more convenient to travel back and forth between the different countries. 
【小题1】By saying the underlined sentence “Now many European countries are expected to follow this example”, the writer means that ____.

A．more signs will be set up in Chinese in European countries

B．more and more Europeans have a desire to know more about China

C．more and more Chinese people will go to travel across Europe

D．Chinese is now an important language in Europe

【小题2】Compared to five years ago, traveling in Europe has become easier because ___.

A．you needn’t drive a car

B．you can use a calculator to exchange money

C．applying for different visas is much simpler

D．one visa is good enough for traveling in a number of countries

【小题3】It can be inferred from the passage that _____.

A．an increasing number of Chinese tend to travel to Europe

B．Chinese has become an important language in Europe

C．the Euro is the only money used in the EU now

D．it is always necessary to unite many countries into one

English teenagers are to receive compulsory (必修的) cooking lessons in schools. The idea is to encourage healthy eating to fight the country’s increasing obesity (肥胖 )rate. It’s feared that basic cooking and food preparation skills are being lost as parents turn to pre-prepared convenience foods.
Cooking was once regarded as an important part of education in England---even if it was mainly aimed at girls. In recent decades cooking has progressively become a minor activity in schools. In many cases the schools themselves have given up cooking meals in kitchens in the schools. But the rising level of obesity has led to a rethink about the food that children are given and the skills they should be taught.
“What I want is to teach young people how to do basic, simple recipes like a tomato sauce, a bolognaise, a simple curry, a stir-fry---which they can use now at home and then in their later life”, said Ed Balls, the minister responsible for schools.
The new lessons are due to start in September, but some schools without kitchens will be given longer to adapt. There is also likely to be a shortage of teachers with the right skills, since the trend has been to teach food technology rather than practical cooking. Also the compulsory lessons for hands on cooking will only be one hour a week for one term. But the well-known cookery writer, Pru Leith, believes it will be worth it.
“If we’d done this thirty years ago we might not have the crisis we’ve got now about obesity and lack of knowledge about food and so on. Every child should know how to cook, not just so that they’ll be healthy, but because it’s a life skill which is a real pleasure”.
The renewed interest in cooking is primarily a response to the level of obesity in Britain which is among the highest in Europe, and according to government figures half of all Britons will be obese in 25 years if current trends are not stopped.
【小题1】The passage mainly talks about        .

A．the reason for obesity	B．the lost cooking skills
C．the healthy eating	D．the compulsory cooking classes

【小题2】Which of the following is NOT the purpose for English teenagers to receive cooking lessons?

A．To encourage teenagers to eat healthy food.

B．To reduce the country’s increasing obesity rate.

C．To stop parents from turning to pre-prepared convenience foods.

D．To prevent basic cooking and food preparation skills from being lost.

【小题3】In what way will cooking lessons benefit the students?

A．They will be healthy and enjoy the pleasure of such a life skill as well.

B．They will be able to do some basic, simple recipes like a tomato sauce.

C．They will be able to make food experiments with the knowledge and skills.

D．They will be able to control the level of obesity in the whole country.

【小题4】The well-known cookery writer, Pru Leith, thinks it        to offer compulsory cooking lessons in schools.

A．difficult

B．necessary

C．funny

D．timely

【小题5】It can be inferred from the passage that       .

A．cooking has always been an important part of school education in England

B．the obesity rate in Britain has been rapidly growing in recent decades

C．English teenagers will have their cooking lessons twice a week for one year

D．the students will pay a lot of money to the school for the

OUR KIDS ARE AMAZING — especially compared with everybody else's (who seem to cry all the time). How do you show your love for your kids this holiday season? With toys that are smooth and colorful, interactive and exciting. And with ones that have educational value — because you are the boss.
1．FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET
Here is a toy that doesn't need power — and the kids have to put it together themselves. This 50 - piece puzzle set is made of soft - edged hardwood and makes a complete hospital, with an X - ray room. It also includes eight patients, a car and a driver.  135; flaxart. com.
2．TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL
Sure, it's cool, but this colorful baby toy also develops problem solving and motor skills. It has a head and legs, a magnetic (磁性的) hand and a tail. Suitable for little ones from 6 to 36 months.  19. 95; tinylove. com.
3．ROBOSAPIEN
This small, remote - control robot is really powerful. It performs 67 preprogrammed functions, including throwing, kicking, picking up and dancing. You can even program your own function, which, sadly, does not include doing windows.  99; robosapienonline. com.
4．MINI PEDAL CAR
Want a Mini Cooper but can't fit the family inside? Get one for the kids. They can jump into this Mini car, which comes in hot orange with a single adjustable seat, and ride away. But it could spoil them for that used car they'll be driving when they turn 16. For ages 3 to 5.  189; mininss. com (click on “gear up, ” then “Mini motoring gear”) .
【小题1】Which toy is said to have the special design for children's safety?

A．ROBOSAPIEN

B．MINI PEDAL CAR

C．FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

D．TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

【小题2】Which toys are fit for three - year - old kids?

A．1 and 3.

B．2 and 4.

C．1 and 2.

D．3 and 4.

【小题3】Educational value is mentioned in all the toys EXCEPT ________.

A．FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

B．TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

C．ROBOSAPIEN

D．MINI PEDAL CAR

【小题4】This passage is written for ________.

A．parents

B．children

C．the writer

D．the boss

Most people hate change, which is sad since we often go through intense changes in life. And for some of us, even the smallest changes can upset our day. So the question is: Why do most of us find making adjustments to our lives so hard?
Fear of change is nothing new. Over a century ago, the Parisians were unhappy over a particular addition to their city: the Eiffel Tower. In fact, the citizens were so angry about the plans for the tower that they protested its construction. As strange as it may seem, their anger was completely natural. They were given no choice about the huge change that was going to be made, so they became angry.
But we get upset over changes even when we do have a say in the matter and think about them carefully. Changes are brought about every day by the decisions we make: which school to attend, which job to take, whom to marry. Voluntary changes also make most of us uneasy because we don’t know how those changes will affect our future.
People have discovered that the key to overcoming the fear and anger associated with change is to be flexible(可弯曲的). When they are flexible, people can adapt to new situations more easily. Being flexible is especially important in the 21st century as technology makes change occur faster than ever before. Those who oppose change, especially with technology in the workplace, may find themselves out of a job.
When change comes, and you have no choice but to face it, embrace it. A positive attitude helps a lot. In fact, the change may turn out to be the best thing for you. That new job you got may end up being much better than your old one. You may make the best friends of your life in the new city you moved to. Don’t merely focus on how you feel about change; instead decide to accept the change. The change is the reality, and it’s up to you whether the change will be a success or a failure. You never know – your next change may be your life’s Eiffel Tower!
【小题1】Why did the building of the Eiffel Tower make the Parisians unhappy?

A．Because they didn’t like the design of the Eiffel Tower.

B．Because they couldn’t avoid accepting the Eiffel Tower.

C．Because it was no use building the Eiffel Tower.

D．Because the Eiffel Tower seemed strange.

【小题2】According to the passage, it can be inferred that what won’t disturb us are _____________.

A．the changes that have agreement with one’s will

B．the small changes we meet in our daily life

C．the changes whose effect we can predict and control

D．the changes that we discuss or consider thoroughly

【小题3】How should we overcome negative emotions that the changes bring?

A．We are not supposed to face the changes and let them alone.

B．We should actively accustom ourselves to the new circumstance.

C．We should not take the changes seriously and avoid them as much as possible.

D．We should know that the changes merely bring us bad influence.

【小题4】What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A．The change will probably make you fail like the Eiffel Tower.

B．The change is like the Eiffel Tower which is not good for our future life.

C．Your future life is never known just like the Eiffel Tower unknown to the Parisians.

D．Your future life is likely to be a great achievement due to the change.

【小题5】 What is the best title for the passage?

A．The Psychology of Change	B．The ways to Overcome the Fear
C．Changes That Disturb Us	D．The Bad Effect of Changes